Locations of photos & videos

Your photos and videos might have a location associated with them. Here are answers to questions you might have about location data:

Where do locations come from?

There are two main sources of location metadata in Google Photos:

Your camera's GPS might record location information directly on to photos and videos. (To turn this off, you'll need to consult the instructions for that camera or app.)

Google Photos might estimate a location.

What's an estimated location?

Google Photos might estimate a location using information such as your Google Location History, which is stored in your Google Account.

How do I remove an estimated location from a photo?

You can remove locations that were estimated by Google Photos. Here's how:

Open the photo or video in the Google Photos app.

Tap Info .

Next to the location, tap More .

Tap Remove location, then Remove.

How do I stop locations from being estimated for my photos?

If you don't want Google Photos to estimate locations, you can turn off Location History. Keep in mind that this will turn Location History off for your entire Google Account. See my Google Location History.

If I share a photo, can people see where it was taken?

It depends on how the location was recorded:

If the location was attached to the photo by your camera or a camera app (like if you took the photo with a smartphone), then the location will be shared along with the photo if you shared the photo using a shareable link. Learn how to stop sharing locations this way in the instructions below.

If the location was estimated by Google Photos, then that location will not be shared.

Using this setting, you can hide location information for photos and videos that:

Were shared via shareable link using the Google Photos app.

Had location information recorded directly onto them by your camera's GPS device.

Stop people from seeing where your shared photos were taken

Open the Google Photos app.

At the top left, tap Menu , then Settings.

Next to Remove geo location, turn the switch on.

Going forward, photos and videos you share using a shareable link will not include location information.

Note: This setting only works for photos and videos you share using a shareable link. If you share a photo or video in another way, for example if you download it and email it to someone, it can still include location information.

Brenna is a Google Photos expert and wrote this page. Help her improve it by leaving feedback below.